Search

Tumor-suppressive cell competition is an evolutionarily conserved process that selectively removes precancerous cells to maintain tissue homeostasis. Using the polarity-deficiency-induced cell competition model in Drosophila, we identify Toll-6, a Toll-like receptor family member, as a driver of tension-mediated cell competition through α-Spectrin (α-Spec)-Yorkie (Yki) cascade. Toll-6 aggregates along the boundary between wild-type and polarity-deficient clones, where Toll-6 physically interacts with the cytoskeleton network protein α-Spec to increase mechanical tension, resulting in actomyosin-dependent Hippo pathway activation and the elimination of scrib mutant cells. Furthermore, we show that Spz5 secreted from fat body, the key innate organ in fly, facilitates the elimination of scrib clones by binding to Toll-6. These findings uncover mechanisms by which fat bodies remotely regulate tumor-suppressive cell competition of polarity-deficient tumors through inter-organ crosstalk and identified the Toll-6-α-Spec axis as an essential guardian that prevents tumorigenesis via tension-mediated cell elimination.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Numenius madagascariensis Linnaeus, 1766 was sequenced in this study. The circular mitogenomes was 17,147 bp in length, containing 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNAs (12S rRNA and 16S rRNA), 22 transfer RNA genes, and a D-loop region. The overall nucleotide composition was A: 31.0%, T: 25.6%, C: 29.5%, and G: 13.9%. Twenty-eight genes were encoded on the heavy strand, while the remaining nine genes were encoded on the light strand. The common start codon was ATG, and three stop codons and an incomplete stop codon (T–) were used in PCGs. This study improves our comprehension of the mitogenomic characteristics and its phylogenetic relationships within Scolopacidae.

There might be a thick “protrusion” in the visceral surface of hepatic quadrate lobe during the laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), which affects the surgical fields and consequently triggers high risks of biliary tract injury. Although n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (NBCA) glue has been applied to laparoscopic upper abdominal surgery for liver retraction, there is still no consensus on its safety and feasibility in LC. In this study, we investigated the safety, feasibility, and effectiveness of liver retraction using NBCA glue for these patients which have the thick “protrusion” on the square leaf surface of the liver during LC. Fifty-seven patients presenting thick “protrusion” hepatic quadrate lobe were included in our retrospective study. We performed LC in the presence of NBCA glue (n = 30, NBCA group) and absence of NBCA glue (n = 27, non-NBCA group), respectively. NBCA was used to fix the thick “protrusion” of the liver leaves to the hepatic viscera surface, which contributed to the revelation of the gallbladder triangle. The operation time, blood loss, postoperative hospitalization, and liver function were compared between the 2 groups. Both the groups’ patients accomplished the operation in the laparoscopy. There was no mortality and no additional incision during operation. No severe complications including bile duct injury were available after surgery and no postoperative NBCA-related complications occurred after 9- to 30 months’ follow-up. The time of operation in NBCA group showed significant decrease compared with that of non-NBCA group (48.33 ± 16.15 vs 65.00 ± 22.15 minutes, P .05). Besides, no significant differences were noticed in major clinical characteristics between the 2 groups (P > .05). Liver retraction using NBCA during LC for thick “protrusion” hepatic quadrate lobe patients is safe, effective, and feasible.

Although RAS family genes play essential roles in tumorigenesis, effective treatments targeting RAS-related tumors are lacking, partly because of an incomplete understanding of the complex signaling crosstalk within RAS-related tumors. Here, we performed a large-scale genetic screen in Drosophila eye imaginal discs and identified Misshapen (Msn) as a tumor suppressor that synergizes with oncogenic Ras (RasV12) to induce c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation and Hippo inactivation, then subsequently leads to tumor overgrowth and invasion. Moreover, ectopic Msn expression activates Hippo signaling pathway and suppresses Hippo signaling disruption-induced overgrowth. Importantly, we further found that Msn acts downstream of protocadherin Fat (Ft) to regulate Hippo signaling. Finally, we identified msn as a Yki/Sd target gene that regulates Hippo pathway in a negative feedback manner. Together, our findings identified Msn as a tumor suppressor and provide a novel insight into RAS-related tumorigenesis that may be relevant to human cancer biology.

Background. Although liver retraction using n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (NBCA) glue has been applied to laparoscopic upper abdominal surgery in noncirrhotic patients, there is still no consensus on its safety and feasibility for cirrhotic patients. In this study, we aimed to investigate the safety and effectiveness of liver retraction using NBCA glue during laparoscopic splenectomy and azygoportal disconnection (LSD) for gastroesophageal varices and hypersplenism secondary to liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Methods. Thirty-nine gastroesophageal varices and hypersplenism secondary to liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension patients were included in our study. We performed LSD in the presence of NBCA glue (n = 22, NBCA group) and absence of NBCA glue (n = 17, n-NBCA group), respectively. The operation time, blood loss, postoperative hospitalization, and liver function were compared between the two groups. Results. There was no mortality during the operation. One patient in non-NBCA group received open surgery due to parenchyma hemorrhage. Postoperative pleural effusion occurred in 2 cases of the NBCA group and 1 of the non-NBCA group. One showed left subphrenic abscess in the non-NBCA group. No postoperative bleeding occurred after 9-30 months of follow-up. The time of operation in NBCA group was significantly shorter than those in n-NBCA group (198.86±17.86 versus 217.81±20.25min, P Conclusion. Liver retraction using NBCA glue during LSD for gastroesophageal varices and hypersplenism secondary to liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension is safe, effective, and feasible.

Objective. To describe the surgical procedures of laparoscopic caudate lobectomy and analyze its clinical efficiency for treating cancer.Methods. Twelve consecutive patients of hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatic hemangioma, and focal nodular hyperplasia who received laparoscopic caudate lobectomy in Qilu Hospital of Shandong University from January 2013 to January 2017 were included in this study. The clinical data, intraoperative parameters, and postoperative outcomes were assessed.Results. All 12 patients received totally laparoscopic technique. The operative time was140.8±95.34minutes. The average estimated blood loss was 97.92 ± 90.54 ml, and no blood transfusions were required. The mean duration of hospital stay was9.17±2.88days. There was no perioperative complication or patient mortality in this series.Conclusions. Laparoscopic caudate lobectomy is safe and feasible in the selected patients.

We aim to investigate the effects of postoperative adjuvant transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) on survival and recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients after radical resection. A total of 320 HCC patients underwent radical resection between January 2010 and January 2014 in Qilu Hospital, Shandong University were divided into 4 groups according to the frequency of postoperative adjuvant TACE. Patients were further stratified into subgroups (tumor diameter ≤5 or >5 cm) with low or high risk factors for recurrence or death. A low risk factor for recurrence or death was defined as Edmondson grade I/II without microvascular invasion (MiVI), while a high risk factor was defined as Edmondson grade III/IV or with MiVI. Survival data and recurrence rates were compared using the Kaplan–Meier method. Uni- and multivariate analyses were based on the Cox proportional analysis. Compared to those received no TACE, patients underwent 2 (log-rank, χ2 = 9.054, P = .003) or 3 (log-rank, χ2 = 4.228, P = .04) TACE showed delayed recurrence. Patients received 2 or 3 TACE showed extended overall survival (OS) compared with the other patients. No statistical differences were found between all the disease-free survival (DFS) and OS in low-risk subgroups. In the patients of the high-risk subgroup with a tumor diameter of ≤5, those received 2 TACE showed delayed recurrence compared with those received no TACE, and TACE (twice or thrice) can improve OS. For those of the high-risk subgroup with a tumor diameter of >5, TACE (twice or thrice) can delay recurrence and improve OS. Adjuvant TACE (twice or thrice) after radical resection is beneficial for HCC patients with poor differentiation and MiVI, especially for those with a tumor diameter of >5 cm.